South African politician Julius Malema sentenced to 5 years for firing rifle shots at rally

South African opposition leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle in the air at a rally, a judgement that could bar the prominent campaigner from parliament.

Soon after, the 45-year-old was allowed to appeal against his sentence by a magistrate in KuGompo City and released until the case is heard by the high court.

Malema was convicted in 2025 on five charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place. The charges stem from a 2018 incident at a stadium in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province during the party’s fifth anniversary celebrations.

In delivering the sentence, the court imposed a five-year prison term, along with an additional two-year sentence and a fine of R60,000 or 18 months’ imprisonment, all to run concurrently—effectively leaving Malema with a five-year jail term.

Delivering the sentence, Magistrate Twanet Olivier said she considered the magnitude of the offense when she determined his sentence.

His legal team immediately applied for leave to appeal the ruling at the court in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London. Malema had earlier pleaded not guilty to all charges.